A blog to record my personal Bible studies and thoughts as I grow in faith.

1 Peter 2

Chapter 2 begins with verses 1-3 that I think are more a continuation of Chapter 1. Chapter 1 refers to believers as obedient children. It tells of the purity of faith having been purified through the fire. Chapter 2 begins by comparing believers to newborn babies and their longing for the pure milk of the Word in order to grow in their salvation. This goes hand in hand with Chapter 1 and I think the chapter got put in there a paragraph too soon.

Then Peter goes on and references the OT description of Jesus as the cornerstone. He describes believers as living stones being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. Peter references the OT many times in Chapter 2. He is weaving with words a picture of belief and faith with Christ as our High Priest and cornerstone. He urges the believers to keep pure and not screw up while living among Gentiles.

He advises servants to be submissive to their masters, no matter what kind of master they have. He reminds them that it’s easy to be submissive to a good master but super hard to submit to a nasty one and that God favors them each time they submit to a nasty one. He understands it is hard and goes against our very nature and God finds favor in our acts of sacrifice for Him.

Christ suffered for us. He is our example. It is the least we can do to honor Him than try to emulate His example. With our successful attempts others may see Him through us.

A lot of the advice Peter is handing out in Chapter 2 is common sense for believers living among non-Christian people. Basically, follow the example of Christ. Submit when necessary, honor the government and laws with which you live under, don’t give in to things that go against your morals, and honor God in all you do. He is saying basically, remember who you are and who you serve so you don’t forget and get led astray by all the idols surrounding you.

It’s good advice. A good reminder for all of us living in today’s world where most of the people we meet either are lukewarm followers of Christ or are agnostic (don’t know what to believe) or are atheists (total non-believers). It’s not very common to find passion filled believers, even within the many surrounding churches. If we remember who we are, who we serve, and keep hold to Christ’s examples for us, we won’t be led astray.